Search Climate Insights Directory
42 results
We must prepare for decades more extreme, damaging weather
The document highlights findings from the 2026 federal assessment of Canada's changing climate, warning that Canada will be nearly 3 C warmer over the next two decades regardless of future emissions. It emphasizes that while some warming is unavoidable, failing to cut global emissions could lead to 5 C of warming by 2100, causing the near-total disappearance of glaciers and severe permafrost thaw. The author calls for immediate investment in infrastructure adaptation—noting that every dollar spent now avoids up to $15 in losses—and a swifter national transition to clean power to avoid uncontrollable devastation.
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Document type: Statement
Climate change is driving unprecedented European ocean temperatures with severe impacts for marine life
The report finds that record-breaking sea surface temperatures in July 2026 across European coasts were driven by human-induced climate change, with some regions experiencing warming that substantially exceeds global averages. These extreme temperatures have triggered marine heatwaves, species range shifts, and increased risks to human health and coastal infrastructure. The analysis indicates that such events would have been virtually impossible in a pre-industrial climate and will continue to intensify as global warming progresses.
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Document type: Research paper
Flood impacts in Assam driven by high exposure and structural vulnerability amid uncertain rainfall trends
The 2026 floods in Upper Assam, which affected over 500,000 people and caused at least 99 deaths, were driven by high exposure and structural vulnerability rather than climate-driven rainfall increases. Analysis shows the rainfall events had return periods of less than two years and that human-induced warming of 1.4°C did not materially alter their likelihood or intensity. The study highlights that unplanned urbanization, deforestation, and colonial land policies have increased vulnerability, while reliance on rigid embankments has proven insufficient for adaptation.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate Change and Flooding
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of floods in Canada, with significant economic losses and public health risks. Over 1.5 million homes are in high-risk areas, and annual flood damage costs could grow three to five times by mid-century. Recommended government actions include restricting development in high-risk zones, enhancing protection infrastructure, and supporting proactive relocation.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Expert opinion on the 2022-2023 Brisbane and Kimberley flood events and their relationship to anthropogenic climate change
The document argues that the 2022 Brisbane and 2022/23 Kimberley floods were made more likely and impactful by human-caused climate change, specifically through increased ocean temperatures, more frequent multi-year La Niña events, and higher atmospheric moisture. It concludes that while the frequency of some weather systems may decrease, the intensity of rainfall and flooding is expected to increase, potentially leading to prohibitive costs for protection and insurance in flood-prone zones.
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Document type: Report
PREPARE OR REPAIR: How climate-proofing public infrastructure pays off
The report finds that climate-driven hazards like extreme rainfall and heat stress will drive infrastructure costs to $14 billion per year by the 2050s and $19 billion by 2085 without adaptation. Proactive adaptation, requiring an average annual investment of $4.1 billion, could lower total costs by nearly $9 billion per year compared to no adaptation and over $4 billion compared to reactive adaptation. The analysis emphasizes that early action improves budget predictability and avoids cascading economic disruptions, though it notes that upgrades to existing assets must be supplemented by new protective infrastructure like dikes.
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Document type: Executive summary
PRÉVENIR OU RÉPARER
The report evaluates the costs of maintaining Canadian public infrastructure under different climate scenarios, concluding that proactive adaptation is more cost-effective than reactive repairs or inaction. It estimates that without adaptation, annual infrastructure costs could reach 14 billion dollars by the 2050s and 19 billion dollars by 2085. Proactive adaptation, requiring an average annual investment of 4 billion dollars, could reduce total costs by nearly 9 billion dollars per year compared to no adaptation. The document recommends six strategic priorities for federal, provincial, and territorial governments to accelerate resilience, including updated building codes and increased funding for municipalities and Indigenous governments.
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Document type: Executive summary
Climate Change Cost-Benefit Analysis for Public Infrastructure in Canada
The report quantifies how extreme heat and rainfall accelerate the deterioration of Canadian public infrastructure, increasing annual costs by $15.1B on average between 2025 and 2100 if no adaptation occurs. It compares 'reactive' and 'proactive' adaptation strategies, finding that proactive upgrades—implemented at the earliest feasible intervention—reduce average annual climate-related costs to $6.5B, a 57% reduction compared to the no-adaptation scenario. The analysis highlights that municipalities bear the heaviest financial burden, owning over 73% of the infrastructure value. A separate flood-risk assessment indicates that structural protection measures can significantly reduce future damages, though returns vary by region.
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Document type: Report
Prepare or Repair
The report argues that proactive investment in adapting Canada's public infrastructure to climate risks can save governments billions in annual costs while protecting the economy from cascading disruptions.
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Document type: Report
Increasing heavy rainfall and extreme flood heights in a warming climate threaten densely populated regions across Sri Lanka and the Malacca Strait
A World Weather Attribution study examines the role of climate change and natural variability in the devastating floods of November 2025 across Sri Lanka and the Malacca Strait. While observational data indicate a significant increase in the intensity of extreme 5-day rainfall events—up to 160% in Sri Lanka and 50% in the Malacca Strait due to a 1.3°C rise in global temperatures—climate models failed to consistently capture these trends, preventing a definitive quantitative attribution. The study also notes that La Niña and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole contributed between 5% and 13% to the rainfall in the Malacca Strait, while rapid urbanization and infrastructure failures exacerbated the humanitarian impact.
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Document type: Research paper
Statements you can make about climate change and extreme weather events
The document outlines how human-caused climate change affects different weather phenomena. It states that extreme heat, marine heat waves, and the intensity of heavy rain and hurricanes are increasing, while extreme cold is becoming less likely. It notes that while climate change increases hot, dry conditions contributing to droughts and wildfires, other factors like land use also play a role. For localized severe storms, the document explains that current climate models cannot yet accurately simulate specific events to make direct attribution statements.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate change likely intensified heavy monsoon rain in Pakistan exacerbating urban floods that impacted highly exposed communities
An event attribution study by World Weather Attribution found that human-induced climate change, primarily from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, has increased the intensity of 30-day maximum rainfall in northern Pakistan by approximately 15%. The study highlights that while the event had a return period of about five years, the resulting high death toll—300 fatalities nationwide as of August 3, 2025, including 140 children—was exacerbated by rapid urbanization, informal settlements, and poor building code enforcement. The report emphasizes a significant funding gap for adaptation, noting that Pakistan requires US$152 billion for adaptation between 2023 and 2030, much of which remains unfinanced.
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Document type: Research paper
Flooding
The document details how climate-driven flooding, including extreme rainfall and sea level rise, disproportionately affects children's physical and mental health. It highlights risks such as respiratory issues from mold, mental health distress, and displacement, while noting that socioeconomic disparities exacerbate these vulnerabilities. The text provides guidance for caregivers on disaster preparedness and advocates for community resilience and rapid carbon emission cuts to protect future generations.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Rapid urbanisation and climate change: key drivers of dramatic flood impacts in Nepal
The study finds that human-induced climate change has increased the intensity of heavy 3-day rainfall events in Nepal by approximately 10% and their likelihood by about 70% compared to a 1.3°C cooler climate. These climate drivers combined with rapid urbanisation in the Kathmandu Valley—which saw a 386% increase in built-up areas between 1990 and 2020—and a 28% reduction in forest cover from 1989 to 2019, significantly increased flood exposure and disrupted natural drainage. The analysis notes that the 2015 Gorhka earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic acted as compounding factors that increased vulnerability. While the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology provided forecasts, the Kathmandu Valley has historically not been the focus of flood risk management, which typically prioritises the Terai region.
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Document type: Research paper
Story Spark: Flooding
The document offers a framework for reporting on flooding, emphasizing the need to connect local events to the broader climate context, avoid misleading probabilistic language like '100-year flood', and focus on personal impacts and hyperlocal infrastructure. It provides a curated list of reporting examples from various US regions and links to data tools from agencies like NOAA and FEMA.
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Document type: Guide
Dikes won't do: why Europe is failing to reduce flood risks
The author contends that traditional engineering solutions like levees and dams are insufficient against increasing extreme rainfall and sea-level rise in Europe. The text highlights the failure of 'maladaptive responses' and advocates for nature-based solutions, such as floodplain restoration, while acknowledging the economic and systemic barriers to transitioning away from concrete-based infrastructure.
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Document type: Other
Climate change increased Typhoon Gaemi's wind speeds and rainfall
The study finds that climate change increased rainfall intensity in Taiwan and Hunan province and contributed to a 7% increase in maximum wind speeds for similar storms in the Western North Pacific basin. While sea surface temperatures as hot as those observed during Typhoon Gaemi were "almost impossible without climate change", the analysis did not identify a significant trend for rainfall in the northern Philippines. The report highlights that existing urban plans and flood infrastructure are unable to withstand climate-driven extreme floods, particularly in areas of unplanned urban development like Metro Manila.
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Document type: Research paper
Climate change made the floods in southern Brazil twice as likely
The study finds that human-induced climate change, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, made the extreme rainfall events in Rio Grande do Sul more than twice as likely and increased their intensity by 6-9%. The El Niño Southern Oscillation also played a significant role, increasing the likelihood of such events by a factor of 2-5. The floods affected over 90% of the state, causing 169 deaths and displacing over 580,000 people, with impacts exacerbated by poverty, failing flood protection infrastructure in Porto Alegre, and inconsistent enforcement of environmental protection laws.
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Document type: Research paper
Lagos State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP)
The Lagos State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan (LCARP) identifies critical climate risks—sea-level rise, extreme rainfall, and extreme heat—and proposes a $9 billion portfolio of 33 projects to mitigate these threats. The plan emphasizes diversifying financing mechanisms beyond concessional debt to include blended finance, grants, and nature-based solutions, while recommending policy and governance reforms to attract private investment.
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Document type: Report
Seasonal Attribution Report
Between December 2023 and February 2024, carbon pollution drove abnormal warmth for approximately 80% of the global population. Roughly 4.8 billion people experienced at least one day of temperatures that would be 'virtually impossible' without climate change. The report highlights extreme temperature anomalies in the U.S. upper Midwest and Canada, as well as high Climate Shift Index (CSI) levels in tropical regions of Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean. It also documents associated extreme weather events, including record-breaking heat in Australia and deadly floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Document type: Report